Feeding mechanism for die casting machine



Oct. 6, 1964 E. 5. DE HART 3,151,367

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR DIE CASTING MACHINE:

Filed Oct. 9, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR EDWARD 5. DE HART ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1964 E. 5. DE HART FEEDING MECHANISM FOR DIE CASTING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 9. 1961 INV ENTOR EDWARD S. DE HART BY M a. /0W

ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1964 E. s. DE HART 3,151,367

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR DIE CASTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 9, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR EDWARD 5. DE HART ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1964 E. 5. DE HART FEEDING MECHANISM FOR DIE CASTING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 9, 1961 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1964 E. s. DE HART 7 FEEDING MECHANISM FOR DIE CASTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 9. 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR EDWARD 5. DE HART Mg W ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1964 E. 5. DE HART 3,151,367

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR DIE CASTING MACHINE Filed 001;. 9, 1961 -8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR EDWARD 5. DE HART ATTORNEY FEEDING MECHANISM FOR DIE CASTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 9, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR EDWARD 5. DE HART BYW ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,151,367 FEEDING MECHANISM FOR DIE CASTING MACHINE Edward S. De Hart, Coilingswood, N1, assignor to FMC Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 9, 1961, Scr. No. 143,628 9 Claims. (Cl. 22-58) The present invention pertains to die casting machines and more particularly relates to apparatus for feeding clips to a machine for casting automotive wheel balance weights which have integral attachment clips.

The article feeder mechanism of the present invention provides means for automatically positioning an attachment clip in a casting mold in such a manner that the clip is partially embedded in the balance weight that is subsequently cast in the mold.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved article feed mechanism which accurately positions an attachment clip in the mold cavities wherein a balance weight is cast around part of the clip.

Another object of this invention is to provide a feed mechanism which is capable of positioning an attachment clip in the mold for each cast weight at a rate of speed at least as high as that rate with which the cast weights can be produced.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved feed mechanism for feeding a series of attachment clips to a casting mold, the feed mechanism being provided with cooperating control means for preventing injection of molten metal into the mold in the event the clip supply becomes exhausted, or if a malformed clip does not accurately seat in the mold.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clip feed mechanism which can accommodate slight misalignment of the feed mechanism with the mold because of normal wear, or because of slight imperfections in the attachment clips.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of an automatic balanceweight casting machine.

FIGURES 2 and 3 are perspectives respectively illustrating an attachment clip alone and a clip having a completed balance weight cast around a leg of the clip.

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic elevation, partly broken away, viewed in the direction of the arrow 4 on FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, diagrammatic isometric illustrating cooperating die members, one unit of which is arranged to receive an attachment clip positioned by the feed mechanism of the invention.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary isometric illustrating the mounting of the clip feed unit of the present invention, and is viewed in the general direction of the arrow 6 on FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a central vertical section of the upper portion of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is an elevation viewed in the direction of the line 88 of FIGURE 4, and particularly illustrating the manner in which weight attachment clips are fed to the single article feed mechanism of the invention.

FIGURE 9 is a horizontal section taken along line 9--9 011 FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a vertical section taken along line 10-10 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURES 11 to 14, inclusive are central vertical fragmentary sections of the feed mechanism of FIGURE 8 and show successive operational stages in gripping a weight attachment clip and placing the clip into the dies.

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FIGURE 15 is a schematic control circuit which may be used to coordinate the various casting machine functions.

The automatic weight casting machine (FIG. 1), in which the improved clip feed mechanism 22 of the present invention may be used, includes a frame structure 23 which rigidly supports the various machine parts to be described, and all of which, except the clip feed 22, are old in the casting arts. A cylindrical vibrating feed unit 24, which is mounted on the upper portion of the frame 23, feeds a series of weight attachment clips 26 one-by-one in a predetermined orientation onto a downwardly inclined bar 28 that guides the clips to the clip feed mechanism 22.

The clip feed mechanism 22 grips the leading clip and carries the clip downward into position in a two piece die unit 30 (FIG. 4) which cooperates with a second die unit 32 to define a molding cavity at a weight casting station 34. A balance weight W (FIG. 3) is cast around an apertured leg 35 (FIG. 2) of each attachment'clip when the cooperating die unit-s 30 and 32 close together and form the sealed molding cavity. The clip 26 is firmly locked to the weight W by means of the molten metal which solidifies in and around the apertures in the clip, and the clip provides attaching means for gripping the rim of a vehicle wheel when the finished weight is mounted.

Molten metal M (FIG. 4), heated by means such as an electrical heating unit, not shown, is contained in an open top tank 36. The fluid metal is pumped into the die cavity byan injection pump 4%) that is submerged in the tank 36. The pump 40 is operated by an actuating rod 42 which extends upwardly through the molten metal M and is vertically reciprocated, when the dies 30 and 32 are closed, by means of an air cylinder 44 that is mounted on a pantially open tubular member 46. The molten metal is conveyed from the pump 40 into the die unit 3% by a conduit 5t) which is connected to a fixed discharge head 52 that communicates with the casting cavity in the die. A gas flame from a nozzle 54 impinges on the upper pontion of the conduit in order to prevent the molten metal from solidifying in the conduit.

The die unit 30 (FIG. 5) comprises two laterally movable dies 3lla and 30b which, as will later be described, close together when the die 32 is moved forward into engagement with die unit 30. The front faces of the dies 38a and 30b are provided with complementary recesses 31 and 33, respectively, which form one longitudinal face of the completed balance Weight W. Each die 30a and 39b is also provided with a recess 300 which, when the dies are abutting, form a sprue hole communicating with the die cavity and with the discharge head 52 in order to conduct molten metal into the cavity. The die 32 is of one piece construction and is provided with a recess 32a (FIG. 13) which forms the curved outer face of the balance weight W.

The central portion of the rear surface of each recess 31 and 33 (FIG. 5) is formed by upstanding and arcuate flange portions or horns 37 and 39, respectively, upon which the attachment clips 26 are received from the clip feed unit 22. A cavity 41 is formed in each die 30a and 30b behind the flanges 37 and 39 to provide access into the die of the lower end of a clip positioning member of the clip feed unit. The positioning member, to be presently described, functions to seat one of the attachment clips 26 onto the cooperating die flanges 37 and 39 when the dies 30a and 30b are in the separated positions shown in FIGURE 5.

The two piece die unit 30 (FIG. 4) at the casting station 34 is mounted upon a support bracket which is secured to the tank 36. Two laterally spaced guide rods 62 and 64 (FIG. 4) projecttoutwardly from the bracket 60 toward the die 32 and are secured at their outer ends to a tie plate 66, which is rigidly fixed in position by two adjustable rods 68 that are connected to the tank 36. Mounted on the outer face of the tie plate 66 is a double-acting air cylinder 71 the piston rod 72 of which projects inwardly through an aperture 73 (FIG. 6) in the tie plate 66. The end of the piston rod '72 (FIG; carries a bar 74 which is pivoted at 75 to a bifurcated bracket 76 that is secured to a reciprocable die support member 78. p

The die support 78 carries the one piece die 32 and is slidable upon the guide rods 62 and 64- so that the die 32 is moved into and out of contact with the two piece die unit 30 by means of the air cylinder 761 The previously mentioned lateral movement of the die elements 39a and 30b is effected by cam means, not shown, which are carried by the die support 78. The cams engage the die element 30a and 3123b so that when the one piece die 32 is carried forward by the air cylinder 71 the dies 30:: and 30b close. When the one piece die 32 is moved rearward, the dies 30a and 3012 are cammed to open position. As will be later mentioned, the balance Weight W is cast when the cooperating dies Stla, 30b and 32 are closed together, and the wei ht is ejected when the dies are separated.

The clip feed mechanism 22 (FIGS. 4 and 6) is mounted upon the tie plate 66 by means of an inverted U-shaped bracket 80 consisting of an upper cross bar 84 and two spaced legs 82 which are bolted to the outer face of the tie plate 66 at each side of the die-actuating air cylinder 70.- Each leg 82 projects upwardly beyond the cross bar 84, and an inwardly projecting bolt 85 is threaded through the upper portion of each leg 82 to provide, in awell known manner, a centering device for a fixture 86 on which the clip feed mechanism is mounted. The fixture 86 is provided with a support bar 83 which rests upon the cross bar 84, said support bar having a plurality of threaded apertures 89, one only being shown. Each threaded aperture receives a bolt 92 that extends through a slot 93 in the cross bar 84. The fixture' 86 can thus be locked inany adjusted position along the bar 84 within the limits of the slots 93.

The clip feed unit 22 (FIGS. 6 and 7) is supported upon an inclined plate 94 which forms the inner wall of the mounting fixture 86. The plate 94 is provided with slotted apertures having bolts 96 extending therethroughwhich are threaded into a sliding plate 98. In order to maintain their sliding alignment, plate 98 and the inclined plate 94 are provided with interengaging keyways at 160. In addition to the connection provided by the bolts 96, the two plates 94 and 98 are interconnected by a bolt 102 which is mounted in lugs 1134, 1% that extend outward from the plates 94 and 98, respectively, to assure that the adjusted elevation of the sliding plate 98 is positively maintained.

The frame of the clip feed unit 22 (FIGS. 6-9) includes laterally spaced side plates 110 and 112. The side plates are each provided with a pivotal connection 114 to a projecting block 116, the two blocks 116 lying adjacent the outer surfaces of the side plates, and being secured to the sliding plate 98. By means of the pivotal connection 114, the angular position of the clip feed unit 22 relative to the plate 98 can be adjusted. The adjusting means includes a bolt 118 (only one being shown in FIG. 6) threaded through each lower corner portion of the sliding plate 98, and a compression spring 120 which is mounted in a socket provided near each upper corner of plate 98. The bolts and springs bear against the adjacent edges of the side plates 11%) and 112, and the mounting provided thereby provides for a limited amount of self-adjustment of the clip feed unit 22, as will presently become apparent, if alignment of the clip feed unit with the die 3% is not perfect because of normal die wear or due to small variations in the size of the attachment clips 26.

The side plates and 112 (FIG. 4) are rigidly interconnected near their upper ends and lower ends by cross plates 124 and 126, respectively. The plate 124 is provided with bolts 125, two of which are shown in FIG. 8, which rigidly secure a double-acting air cylinder 128 to the plate. The piston rod 139 of air cylinder 128 carries an elongate probe 132 (FIGS. 8 and 11) which is one of two cooperating elements that grip and transfer the clips 26 from a clip loading station at 134 to the die 36 at the casting station 34. The probe 132 (FIGS. 8 and 9) is guided during its reciprocal movement by means of guide strips 136 which are secured to, and project inwardly from, the side plates 111i and 112, and which are each provided with a grooved longitudinal edge portion that embraces the corresponding corner of the probe 132.

One side of the probe 132 (FIG. 8) carries a camming blade 14%, the lower end 142 of which functions to cam aside a pivotable clip supporting gate 14-4 when the piston rod is projected from the Probe air cylinder 128 and moves the probe 132 downward. The gate 144 is provided with a cam roller 145 which lies in the path of the camming blade so that at substantially the same instant the clip is gripped, the cam roller is contacted by blade 140 and the gate begins to pivot away from the descending probe 132. The gate is pivoted to the side plate 112 by a bolt 146-, and a bolt 148 is threaded in a block 149 on the inner surface of the side plate 112 to provide adjustment means for presetting the gate in its upper position. The upper, pivoted position of gate 144 is determined by the engagement of a stud 151, which is secured to the gate, with the lower end of bolt 148. A tension spring 150 is connected to the side wall 114) and to the stud 151 in order to urge the gate toward its uppermost position.

Cooperating with, and carried by the probe 132 is a clip gripping finger (FIGS. 10-14) which is arranged for limited sliding movement in a longitudinal groove 162 that is formed in the probe 132. The probe is provided with a slotted portion 164, the adjacent side walls of which have longitudinally extending slots 166 therein, only one wall and slot being shown in FIG. 11. The slots 166 receive the end portions of a pivot shaft 168 which is slidable in the slots and is secured to a leg 170 of the gripper finger by a set screw 171. The lower end 172 of the gripper finger 150 is urged toward the lower end 174 of the probe 132 by means of a spring-urged plunger 176 which is mounted in a recess formed in the probe and which bears against the upper end portion of the gripper finger 161).

In the fully retracted position of the probe 132, an inclined cam surface 180, which is formed on a leg 1&1 that projects from the upper part of the gripper finger, is in contact with a cam roller 152 so that the finger 1&0 is held at one extreme of its pivotal movement. The lower end 172 of the gripper finger is thus spaced from the lower end 174- of the probe 132 in order to provide clearance between the probe and finger for the entrance of a clip 26 at the clip loading station 134. The cam roller 132 is held between arms 135 of a bifurcated bracket 184 which is adjustably secured in a central groove 186 in the inner face of the cross plate 126. The bracket 13 is secured in its adjusted position by bolts 133 which are threaded into the bracket 184 and extend through slots 19% in the cross plate. In order to assist the bolts 188 in securing the bracket against the upward thrust of the gripping finger 160 when the finger and probe 132 are reciprocated by the air cylinder 128, a stop bolt 192 is adjustably secured to the cross plate and bears against the bracket 184.

The lower end of the clip guide bar 28 (FIGS. 8 and 10) is secured by a bolt 193 and a spacer 194 to an L-shaped bracket 196 which is fixed to the rear edge surface of the side plate 116. The length of spacer 194 is such that the clip guide bar 2% lies in a plane common to the clip gate 1&4 so that an upper edge portion 195 of the gate, in effect, provides a depressible extension of the upper edge of the guide bar. The end of the clip guide bar 28 terminates along a line which lies very close to the adjacent side surface of the clip probe 132. Since the upper edge portion of the guide bar 28 merges into coplanar relation with the upper edge 195 of the clip gate 144, when the clip probe 132 is in its uppermost position, the leading clip 26A (in phantom line) slides onto the clip gate 144 in a position to be gripped and transferred when the air cylinder 123 is energized to lower the probe 132. When the probe 132 is lowered, the clips succeeding the gripped clip are held in substantially the same positions by the probe 132 because the probe slides along the forward edge of the leading clip during the downward movement of the probe.

As the probe 132 (FIGS. 11 and 12) is lowered, the arcuate surface of a transverse recess 2213, which is formed in the lower end of the probe 132, contacts the closed arcuate end surface of the leading clip 25. At the same time, the cam surface 181) on the leg 181 of the gripper finger 161 is moved away from contact with the cam roller 132, and the gripper finger is pivoted about the pivot shaft 168 by means of the spring biased plunger 176. The nner longitudinal surface 261 of the lower portion of gripper finger 1 5i) is thus spring urged into contact with the straight leg 35 of the attachment clip 26, whereby the clip is positively gripped between the probe 132 and the gripper finger 161) for continued transfer movement toward the die it).

Near the lowermost limit of the stroke of the probe 132 (FIG. 13), an undersurface 133 of the leg 181 on the upper portion of the gripper finger 161 contacts a horizontally disposed leg 2% of an L-shaped stop member 208. An upstanding leg 21% (FIG. 8) of the stop member 288 is bolted to the rear edge of the sideplate 112. Downward movement of the gripper finger 161) (FIG. 13) is thus arrested by the stop member 208 just before the clip 26 enters the die 3%. Continued downward movement of the probe 132 after the stop member 293 is contacted, however, is independent of the movement of the gripper finger 166 because the pivot shaft 158, which mounts the gripper finger to the probe, is free to slide upward in the slot 166 in the probe.

As the probe comes to the lower end of its stroke, the gripper finger 169 is completely retracted and pivots about shaft 168 due to the pressure of the spring urged plunger 176. This imparts a rotating movement to the released clip so as to properly locate it on the die flanges 37 and 39. As will be evident, the particular advantage of the clip release arrangement provided by the upward movement of the gripper finger 160 relative to the probe 132, is that the clip is retained under positive control during its transfer to a fully seated position on the die flanges.

When the clip 25 is seated over the die flanges as described, the probe begins to retract due to a reverse movement of the piston rod 130 of air cylinder 128. As soon as the probe clears the die 35), a plunger 211 (FIGS. 13 and 14) of a small air cylinder 212 (FIG. 4) which is fixed to a bracket 213 on the tank 36, is projected from the cylinder and into contact with the curved end portion of the clip. The retraction of the probe 132 and gripper finger 169, and the forward movement of the plunger 211 occur nearly simultaneously and the clip 26 is thus locked onto the die flanges immediately after being released by the probe 132.

The plunger 211 (FIG. 4-) is connected by links 214 to an air control valve 236 which controls actuation of the air cylinder 44. Cylinder 44, it will be recalled, causes molten metal to be pumped into the die cavity formed by the dies 38 and 32 after they have been closed. In the absence of a clip 26 properly positioned on the die flanges, the air control valve 236 will prevent the energization of the air cylinder 44, a necessary precaution because otherwise the open passage in which the clip is normally positioned will'permit molten metal to be forced out of the dies. If the clip is properly positioned, a control v circuit 22% (FIG. 15) is conditioned, as will be next described, for the normal operational sequence.

The control circuit 220 (FIG. 15) diagrammatically illustrates only one form of apparatus which may be used to coordinate the functions of the various machine ele ments described. Four synchronously driven cams are used in the control circuit 220 including a probe control cam 215, an injection pump control cam 216, a die control cam 217 and a plunger cam 218. All of the cams 215418 are mounted on a common shaft and revolve clockwise. The probe control cam 215 is provided with a recessed portion 221 and an air valve unit 222 which has a cam follower 223 and is actuated each time the recess 221 indexes with follower 223. Air from a main supply conduit 224 is transmitted to the valve 222 by a conduit 226 and except when the air valve unit 222 is actuated at the time the recess 221 indexes with its follower, the air supply is transmitted through valve 222, through a connecting line 228, and into the bottom of the probe cylinder 12-8. The piston rod of cylinder 128, therefore, is normally held in an upper retracted position. When the valve 222 is actuated, air enters the upper part of cylinder 128 via a conduit 23%), and the probe 132 and gripping finger are lowered through the loading zone 134 to engage and convey a clip 26 into the die 30.

The probe and gripper immediately retract after their downward stroke, and as soon as they clear the die 30, a raised portion 232 of the plunger cam 218 engages a follower 231 and actuates an air valve 233 which, in turn, energizes the plunger cylinder 212 through a conduit 234. The plunger 211 is thus projected from the cylinder 212 and engages the closed end portion of the clip 26 at about the same time the probe 132 disengages the clip. The air control valve 236, to which the plunger 211 is connected, is moved to an open position if the plunger is stopped by an attachment clip in the die 30. If no clip is present, the control valve 236 moves through its open position to a closed position.

Subsequent to the clip being positioned in the die and the probe 132 being retracted, a recessed portion 240 of the die cam 217 actuates an associated air control valve 242. Actuation of the valve 242 causes airfrom the main air supply line 224 to be transmitted through a conduit 244 which connects the air valve 242 to the air cylinder 70 which reciprocates the one piece die 32. The dies 30 and 32 are thus completely closed upon actuation of the air cylinder 70, and with a clip properly poistioned and locked in the dies, the next step is the injection of molten metal into the die cavities.

The air control valve 236, it will be recalled, was moved to open position when the plunger 211 engaged the clip 26. The valve 236 is in a series connection through a conduit 246, a control valve 247, and a conduit 248to the air supply line 224. A raised camming portion 250 of the injection pump control cam 216 actuates the valve 247 whereby air is transmitted through the valve 236 into a line 252 which is connected to the injection pump air cylinder 44. Molten metal M from the tank 36 isthus forced through the conduit 50 into the dies. The metal in the dies solidifies during the dwell period of the cams and then the die cam 217 causes retraction of the die 32, at which time the dies 30a, 3% separate and an ejector mechanism, not shown, pushes out the completed balance weight'W (FIG. 3).

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the feeding mechanism 22 of the present invention provides simple, yet'durable, means for rapidly gripping, conveying and positioning the balance weight attachment clips 26. Further, due to the manner in which the clips are released from the cooperating probe and gripper members which engage the clips for transfer to the die 39, the clips are under positive and continuous mechanical control. While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that the article feeding mechanism may be modified and varied without departing from the principles of the invention.

The invention having thus been described, that which is believed to be new, and for which protection by Letters Patent is desired, is: V

1. In a die casting machine, an article positioning mechanism comprising a fixed frame structure, a reciprocable probe member slidably mounted in said frame for movement from above an article loading station to an article releasing station adjacent a molding die, an air cylinder mounted in said frame structure and having a piston rod connected to said probe for efiecting reciprocation of the probe, an article gripping member pivotally connected to said probe, spring means urging said gripping member into resilient contact with an article positioned between said probe and gripping members at said loading station, and camming means including a camming surface formed on said gripping member and an abutment mounted on said frame in position to be contacted by said camming surface when said probe approaches its uppermost position for holding said gripping member spaced from said probe member when the probe is positioned above said loading station and for releasing said gripping member to grip the article against said probe as the coopcrating probe and gripping members move through said loading station.

2. An article positioning mechanism adapted to grip and convey an article to a predetermined position in a molding die comprising a frame structure, a cam abutment mounted on said frame, cooperating probe and gripping members mounted on said frame structure and movable together from an article loading station to an article releasing station, said probe and gripping members having adjacent gripping ends adapted to grip an article, a cam surface formed on said gripping member and capable of engaging said cam abutment for maintaining the gripping end of said gripping member spaced from said probe adjacent said loading station, said cam means being operable to release said gripping member when said gripping end thereof moves into said article loading station, spring means for moving the gripping end of said gripping member toward said probe to engage an article when said probe member moves into said loading station, pivotable gate means releasably supporting an article at said loading station in the path of movement of said probe member, power means for reciprocating said probe and gripping members between said article loading station and said article releasing station, and stop means engageable with said gripping member for moving the gripping end of said gripping member away from said probe at said article releasing station.

3. In a die casting machine an article positioning mechanism comprising a fixed frame structure, a reciprocable probe member slidably mounted in said frame for movement in a path through an article loading station to an article releasing station adjacent a molding die, adjustable means for releasably supporting an article at said loading station in the path of said probe member, a gripping member mounted on said probe member having an article gripping end movable toward and away from said probe, said gripping member being adapted for limited sliding movement relative to said probe in the directions of movement thereof, cam means engageable with said gripping member for holding the article gripping end of said gripping member spaced from said probe when said probe is positioned above said loading station and for releasing said gripping member as the probe enters said loading station, spring means interposed between said probe and said gripping member for urging said gripping end of said gripping member toward said probe, stop means for arresting the movement of said gripping member after the probe advances through said loading station, and an air cylinder for moving said probe between a position above said article loading station and a position adjacent said article releasing station.

4. In an article positioning mechanism for gripping and conveying an article to a predetermined article releasing position, two cooperating article engaging elements movable along a path through an article loading station at which an article is gripped by said article engaging element, a fixed frame structure slidably supporting said article engaging elements, power means for moving said cooperating article engaging elements along said path, a camming blade carried by one of said elements for coextensive movement therewith, an article supporting gate pivoted to said frame structure and positioned in the path of movement of at least one of said gripping elements, means resiliently holding said'gate in an article holding position, and camming blade engaging means secured to said gate and engaged by said cumming blade during movement of said blade toward said gate for pivoting said gate away from said one gripping element substantially coincidental with the gripping of an article supported by said gate.

5. Article positioning means adapted to grip and convey an article to a predetermined position in a molding die comprising a'frame structure, cooperating probe and gripping members mounted on said frame structure and movable from an article loading station to an article releaisng station, said probe and gripping members having adjacent gripping ends adapted to grip an article, cam means for maintaining said gripping ends spaced apart adjacent said loading station, spring means for moving one of said gripping ends toward the other when the said probe and gripping members move through said loading station, a pivotable. gate releasably supporting an article at said loading station in the path of movement of said probe member, power means for reciprocating said probe and gripping members between said article loading sta- 7 tion and said article releasing station, stop means for atresting said gripping member adjacent said article releasing station and thereby moving said gripping ends to article releasing position, and plunger means adjacent said article releasing station operable to immobilize said article in said die after said probe and gripping members reach the limit of their respective movements.

6. In a casting machine the combination of a fixed frame structure, a probe member slid-ably mounted in said frame structure for movement in a path through an article loading station to an article releasing station adjacent a molding die, an article supporting gate pivoted to said frame structure in the path of said probe member, said gate having an upper edge supporting a U-shaped and inverted single article, spring means resiliently holding said gate in article supporting position, a gripping finger mounted for pivotal and sliding movement on said probe member and being movable relative to said probe to a position en aging and gripping the article against said probe, and a fixed stop member secured to said frame and having a portion intercepting said gripping finger when the gripped article is adjacent said article releasing station, said probe member advancing the article while said gripping finger engages said stop member to disengage the gripping finger from the article at said article releasing station. 7

7. Article positioning means adapted to grip and convey an article to a predetermined position in a molding die comprising a frame structure, cooperating probe and gripping members mounted on said frame structure and movable from an article loading station to an article releasing station, said probe and gripping members having adjacent gripping end portions adapted to grip an article at said loading station, cam means for holding said gripping end portions spaced apart adjacent said loading station, spring means for closing said gripping ends while said probe and gripping members move through said loading station, gate means releasably supporting an article at said loading station in an article engaging position in the path of movement of said probe and gripping members, cam means carried by said probe member for moving said gate into an article disengaging position out of said path after said gripping end portions engage an article, spring means connected to said gate for restoring said gate to said article supporting position, power means for reciprocating said probe and gripping members between said article loading station and said article releasing station, and abutment means engaged by said gripping finger for moving said gripping end of said gripping member away from said probe at said article releasing station.

8. An article positioning mechanism for successively moving each of a series of oriented articles into a predetermined position in a molding die comprising an upstanding main support at a fixed location relative to said die, an upstanding and elongate frame structure having a transverse pivotal connection to said main support for movement of said frame about a substantially horizontal axis, spring means opposing rotation of said frame structure in one direction, stop means preventing rotation of said frame structure in the other direction, cooperating probe and gripping members mounted on said frame structure and movable from an article loading station to an article releasing station, said probe and gripping members having adjacent gripping ends adapted to grip an article, means for maintaining said gripping ends spaced apart adjacent said loading station, means for moving the gripping end of said gripping member toward said probe while said probe and gripping members move through said loading station, pivotable means releasably supporting an article at said loading station in the path of movement of at least one of said gripping ends, power means for reciprocating said probe and gripping members between said article loading station and said article releasing station, and means for separating said gripping ends of said probe and gripping members at said article releasing station.

9. An article positioning mechanism for conveying an article into a predetermined position in a molding die comprising an upstanding main support at a fixed locaton relative to said die, an upstanding and elongate frame structure having a transverse pivotal connection to said main support for movement of said frame about a substantially horizontal axis, spring means urging said frame structure to rotate upon said axis in one direction, stop means for preventing rotation of said frame structure in the same direction, a probe member and a cooperating gripping member slidably mounted in said frame structure and movable from an article loading station remote from said die to an article releasing station adjacent said die, said probe and gripping members having adjacent gripping ends adapted to grip an article therebetween, means for maintaining said gripping ends spaced apart adjacent said loading station, spring means for moving the gripping end of said gripping member towards said probe when said probe and gripping members move through said loading station, pivotable gate means releasably supporting an article at said loading station substantially between the paths of movement of said probe and gripping members, an air cylinder for reciprocating said probe and gripping members between said article loading station and said article releasing station, and stop means arranged to arrest movement of said gripping member adjacent said article releasing station prior to the completion of the stroke of said probe member whereby said probe member moves the article out of engagement with said gripping member and into engagement With said die.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,498,031 Deiss Feb. 21, 1950 2,579,951 Morin Dec. 25, 1951 2,712,654 Batlas July 12, 1955 2,832,109 Fisher Apr. 29, 1958 

1. IN A DIE CASTING MACHINE, AN ARTICLE POSITIONING MECHANISM COMPRISING A FIXED FRAME STRUCTURE, A RECIPROCABLE PROBE MEMBER SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID FRAME FOR MOVEMENT FROM ABOVE AN ARTICLE LOADING STATION TO AN ARTICLE RELEASING STATION ADJACENT A MOLDING DIE, AN AIR CYLINDER MOUNTED IN SAID FRAME STRUCTURE AND HAVING A PISTON ROD CONNECTED TO SAID PROBE FOR EFFECTING RECIPROCATION OF THE PROBE, AN ARTICLE GRIPPING MEMBER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID PROBE, SPRING MEANS URGING SAID GRIPPING MEMBER INTO RESILIENT CONTACT WITH AN ARTICLE POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID PROBE AND GRIPPING MEMBERS AT SAID LOADING STATION, AND CAMMING MEANS INCLUDING A CAMMING SURFACE FORMED ON SAID GRIPPING MEMBER AND AN ABUTMENT MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME IN POSITION TO BE CONTACTED BY SAID CAMMING SURFACE WHEN SAID PROBE APPROACHES ITS UPPERMOST POSITION FOR HOLDING SAID GRIPPING MEMBER SPACED FROM SAID PROBE MEMBER WHEN THE PROBE IS POSITIONED ABOVE SAID LOADING STATION AND FOR RELEASING SAID GRIPPING MEMBER TO GRIP THE ARTICLE AGAINST SAID PROBE AS THE COOPERATING PROBE AND GRIPPING MEMBERS MOVE THROUGH SAID LOADING STATION. 